Will Barnet: featured artist

I recently rediscovered Will Barnet’s work when I signed up for Misty Mawn‘s Art Entwined class (I was going to link to it, but it looks like she’s no longer offering the class). Ever since then, I knew I had to find out more about him. I started Googling, and reading everything I could get my hands on.

Having grown up in New England, I felt a special bond when I watched Will in the videos above. Now I simply can’t get enough. I’ve become quite obsessed with the dear man, and will continue reading about him long after this post goes live.

Lots of links here. Haven’t had a chance to read through all of them yet, but I plan on it.

About this featured artist series: I pretty much always keep my nose to the grindstone, and rarely look up from my own work. I’m so busy in my studio, who has time for anything else? That’s what I used to think, anyway, but I want to change that a bit, and spend 2017 exploring other artists’ work. My thinking is this.. maybe by understanding what makes other artists tick, I can better understand myself, and why art is so important to me. I hate the thought of keeping these gems all to myself, so I thought I’d share them with you. Look for new posts every Thursday.

Comments

Katie, your Featured Artist idea is inspired! And inspiring! Thank you. I’m so grateful for your sharing, and I identify with your reasons for poking into what makes others artists tick.

I’ve watched the two primary links you included. Awesome. Will Barnett has totally charmed me, and I will follow other links you provided—perhaps I’ll try to tick off a few items from my to-do list before I totally lose myself there!

I exclaimed out loud when I found out Barnett grew up in Beverly, MA, literally the town next door to me, the town in which I worked for many years and in which my hubby still works, the town we go to for Saturday date night take out every week, the town where we go to the beach for walks and picnics for all the warm months of the year, the town that in the late 60’s founded Montserrat College of Art. Plus, we are well familiar with the Beverly Public Library. Way fun to have that sense of connection.

I was surprised he was from Beverly, too!! I used have family in Beverly and Salem, and I visited most every weekend. I wish I had known of Will at that time. I would love to see his work in person. sigh. Maybe some day?

Painter, licensed artist, blogger. My artwork can be seen on Criminal Minds on CBS. If you like my art, and want to license it, please contact me.

Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that’s why I made works of art. – Felix Gonzalez-Torres